I wanted to share the icing recipe I make for the boys to decorate cookies. I don't have the step by step pictures, those might come later with the next batch I make.

It's the most PERFECT royal icing for cookies! Simple to make, easy squeeze out, doesn't run off the sides and get everywhere, looks glossy and the best part....it dries hard enough to stack the cookies!!!!

Ever make cookies, take the time to decorate and put in a storage container only to open it up the next day to one large massive stuck together cookie? No? Oh, me neither. I was just asking. :D

I've had this happen not only to cookies for the house but I decorated and bagged the cutest cookies for a gift and the bag stuck/sunk into every cookie. UGH!

Well, not anymore!!!!!!

Santa cookies the boys made

I made some too! DON'T TOUCH the hat, boot, or Texas! Mine!

Ooooh Ahhhh! Okay, now for the recipe. Sorry, not in a cute printable link but it's so easy it doesn't need it.

1 bag of powdered sugar (2lbs)

8 tbsp milk (I used almond milk)

8 tbsp light karo corn syrup

8-10 drops of lemon juice (bottle or fresh) I used fresh and the drops were smaller so I put 10

Siffting ....NAH!

Add ingredients little by little.....NAH!

Put it all in the mixer

Cover with a towel so your house doesn't look like a powdered sugar winter wonderland

Turn on low for a few seconds then up to medium

Mix for 8-10 minutes

DONE!!

I separated into 4 bowels and added food color. I only did red (pinkish,) blue, green and left one bowl plain white.

Icing tips....NAH!

I bagged with cuplers and tips only to take them all apart and just bag and clip the ends of the bag. I had the smaller tips and it was taking too long to cover the cookies.

They were delicious!!! Um...I mean, I guess they were because Santa only left crumbs. Dang near licked the plate clean. Geez!

This is our 2nd annual decorating party and I stepped it up a notch. Last year we had 12 houses and this year......22 houses!!!! Yes, I am crazy. :D

This party requires a lot of prep work but is so worth it!!!

First I pre-cut each board from cardboard boxes and covered with wrapping paper. Last year I found this thick glitter wrapping (pictured) but this year it's not only glittery but also has snowflakes on it too. No photo but you can kinda tell in the top photo.

Also, I HIGHLY recommend covering the table. This is probably a given with kids but seriously, cover the table. The icing turns into cement basically. :)

I'm going to link to a few other posts for things that need more details.

Today we are prepping for our 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party. It's not until next weekend but this helps instead of waiting until the last minute. These candy lights (found originally from Hungry Happenings) were such a huge hit last year so we are making them again. By "we" I mean my son. You may want to make these yourself instead of the kids. Knives and lighters are not kid friendly :) He was 11yrs old (12 now) and did a great job handling the lighter. I love how cute they are and so simple to make.

One of the houses from last year. So CUTE!

Supplies:

Almond M&M's

Mike and Ike candy

lighter

knive

We separated the candy and only used green and red but you could use all of them for colorful lights. My kids were super eager to just use the red and green. At first this seemed odd until I realized they wanted the leftovers. Sneaky boys!

Cut Mike and Ike candy in half, very carefully warm the cut end with a lighter and immediately hold agains the round part of the almond M&M. Hold for a few seconds and DONE!

I love having super sweet and generous boys but sometimes it's hard to do on a budget, especially around Christmas. The boys want to give something to ALL the teachers...P.E., Art, Music, Receptionist, Nurse, Principal, Asst. Principal, Librarian, and to their main teachers as well. YIKES!!!! I wish we could afford notepads for that many. We still want them to know they are appreciated so we are making red velvet cakes in mason jars. I made these a couple years back and LOVED HOW THEY TURNED OUT!!!

Red velvet cake baked right in the mason jars!

Found these at HEB (grocery store)

I first put all the jars in the dishwasher the night before. I could fit 12 in a 9X12 baking pan with 1/4 inch of water in the pan. I filled all the jars 1/2 way with red velvet cake mix by using a ziplock bag with the corner clipped. Just SQUEEZE and PINCH to fill. SO EASY AND MESS FREE!!!!